“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” – Nathaniel Branden

This week we are hearing all about gratitude and giving thanks. We are called every year to really take a look at what we are thankful for and really be grateful for what we have in front of us. But what about the other times of the year? What happens the other 364 days? Or maybe I should knock that number down to 325 days (between Thanksgiving and Christmas our gratitude levels go up so I’ll give you some extra days there). What causes us to forget the blessings in our lives that happen on a daily basis? I’m not going to focus on that gratitude though. Today will be about how to bring more awareness into our lives and make it stick so changes can happen in our lives. And, as we’re learning, awareness is an integral step towards gratitude.

Some interesting developments have happened over the last couple of weeks that have really brought my awareness to a whole new level. Awareness is one of the first steps to seeing the great things in our lives that are happening, even if it ‘looks’ bad on the outside.

About a week and a half ago I was called by another animal communicator to team up with her to work on a lost animal case. This cat had been gone for almost a month and she had been on the case for about a week. I instantly received information from this cat that he just didn’t want to go home. Yes, he was scared too, but he also didn’t want to step back into the situation that was going on in the home. He had a very direct message for his owner, and he also directed her to what he wanted to have happen before he would go back home. Unfortunately, it wasn’t what his owner wanted to hear. Of course she just wanted her cat to come back home and why wouldn’t he just do that since she loved him so much and wanted him there? It didn’t make sense to her that he wanted to bring a different awareness to her about things going on in life. He did it out of love, not spite. But that wasn’t what was in question. The question was if she was ready to hear it or not.

Then a couple of days later another case came in for us to work as a team. It was a similar situation. The cat wanted the owner to get the help she needed before returning home. Again, the owner wasn’t able to hear what was going on and my lost animal case partner and I were getting a little baffled. These animals were refusing to go home unless certain conditions were met. It made us both go ‘hmmmm’. So I did what I usually do when that happens. I asked for more information from my own cats. Fizz came through loud and clear and I’ll share some of his message with you:

“Humans have this insane way of not looking at the truth. They don’t like to be told directly what’s going on. They avoid it completely. They want things fluffed up for them and said in a pretty way. Mom, you have struggled with this for years – both with saying things and hearing things. Although I have to say you’ve gotten much better. But, that’s not the point. I have so much to say. Kallie has so much to say. Max, Shiloh, Black Star, Raven, Emmie, and just keep adding in all the names of the animals you know. We have so much to say and we’re not being heard in a way that’s helping us, or you, in the best possible way anymore. We get our words filtered and watered down. No more. These lost animal cases are coming to you for a reason. People are going to have to step it up. Tow the line so to speak. Direct is better and can’t be twisted around as much. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Plus what we say won’t be taken with a grain of salt as much either. Ignoring what we say, or lessening the lesson is exasperating. Animals aren’t wishy washy like people are. When we come into your life we gladly take on what you need help with. Really. We do. But when your lesson isn’t being learned and you are turning your back on what you need to do and become who you are meant to be, that is when we get frustrated. It has taken time for it to be accepted that animals do, and will, talk to humans. It’s about time! Now it’s not as fun and fluffy as people would like it to be. We have stuff to say, and we’re going to say it. We will get it through one way or the other. That one dog you worked with lost her eyesight for her owner to finally realize she needed to start ‘seeing’ what was right in front of her! We do what it takes to help our humans with their lessons. Now it’s time for you to do the same. Times are changing Mom, and you are going to be part of it. Animal communicators also have to step up to the plate. Quit watering down what the animal is saying to their person. Once people quit doing that for you, you were actually much happier. We got to the core of issues much quicker and made adjustments without it taking so damned long. In the long run, it is the best way to go. Direct. To the point. Do it.”

There was a lot more to the conversation with Fizzgig, but I think it gives you a good idea about awareness. He wants people to become more aware, and he’s not mincing his words. He never does. That is the beauty of our relationship. I don’t always want to hear it, but it is what I need to hear. I am grateful for his bluntness. He has a sharp wit, and a sharp tongue. He is also extremely wise and knows what he wants. It’s me that will miss his messages and it can take some time before I get it.

With that being said, I invite you to be more aware of your surroundings. The messages our animal friends may seem harsh, not always what we are looking to hear, but they are something to be grateful for. I have found a path of greater awareness because of Fizz’s bluntness and direct way of telling me things. And, through that, I have found more to be grateful for in life. Once I realized the bluntness and directness was for my own good, and not to be mean, I was able to heal much more quickly from past hurts. I was able to get through my own muck and find more things to be grateful for in life, even through the more dismal times. I was able to move forward and get unstuck from my stuff that was holding me back. There is always something to be grateful for, but are you willing to look at it? The choice really is up to you.

– written by Kristen Scanlon (Certified BodyTalk Practitioner & Animal Communicator), owner of Talk Pawsitive, LLC and co-owner of The Healing Loft, LLC in Minneapolis, MN. You can reach her at healing@thehealingloftmpls.com or by calling The Healing Loft, LLC at (612)208-1408.